FORAGE AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT Productivity of Chicory and Plantain Cultivars under Grazing

in 1985 and has been frequently used in the USA where good summer productivity has been reported (Jung et The bimodal distribution of growth of cool-season grass species al., 1996; Volesky, 1996). Chemical analyses indicate generates an imbalance in the amount of forage available during the summer, which could be improved by using alternative forage species. that Puna chicory is a high quality feed, and animal Several chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago performance tests suggest that high liveweight gains and lanceolata L.) cultivars were evaluated for such purpose and convoluntary feed intake are obtainable in deer (Cervus trasted against ‘Pennlate’ orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) under elaphus), sheep (Ovis aries), and cattle (Bos taurus) different grazing strategies in two experiments during 3 yr. In Exp. 1, (Rumball, 1986; Kusmartono et al., 1996; Barry, 1998). ‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory and Pennlate orchardgrass achieved similar Plantain (a.k.a. English plantain, narrow-leaf plandry matter (DM) yields during spring (6500 vs. 7250 kg DM ha 1, tain, buckhorn plantain, ribwort, and ribgrass) has a respectively) and summer (3350 vs. 3900 kg DM ha 1, respectively). broad distribution in grasslands throughout the temperBetween plantain cultivars, yields similar to Pennlate orchardgrass ate world (Fraser and Rowarth, 1996), and naturally were achieved by ‘Grasslands Lancelot’ (7350 kg DM ha 1) in spring occurring populations of plantain appear to have considand by ‘Ceres Tonic’ (3150 kg DM ha 1) in summer. Grazing every 3 wk vs. 5 wk reduced DM yield in summer (1650 vs. 4450 kg DM erable tolerance to drought and summer heat (Sagar and ha 1, P 0.001). In Exp. 2, spring DM yields of Puna chicory were Harper, 1964). Animal performance tests performed in greater than those of Pennlate orchardgrass (5750 vs. 3600 kg DM New Zealand suggest liveweight gain of lambs grazing ha 1, average yield over years; P 0.05). In summer, DM yield of plantain to be about 100 g animal 1 d 1 and 1 kg ha 1 Puna chicory relative to that of Pennlate orchardgrass varied between d 1 greater than that of lambs grazing ryegrass (Lolium years. Yield of Lancelot plantain decreased during 2000 and 2001 perenne) pastures (Moorhead et al., 2002). Plantain esfollowing decreases in plant density. Our results suggest that most tablishes rapidly, grows on a wide range of agricultural cultivars tested may not increase forage availability during the sumsoils, and during dry years, the species may attain DM mer, which may be related to plant density losses. Of all cultivars, yields similar to orchardgrass (Stewart, 1996). Two forPuna chicory appeared as the most promising. Due to very low plant age cultivars are available commercially, Grasslands survival, the plantain cultivars tested may not be appropriate for perennial pastures in northeastern USA. Lancelot and Ceres Tonic. Grasslands Lancelot was selected for its bushy growth habit and the ability to tiller strongly under close grazing by sheep (Rumball et al., 1997). Ceres Tonic was selected for erect growth habit T modality of growth of cool-season grass speand large leaves (Stewart, 1996). cies, which predominate in pastures of the northForage chicory has greater potential yields than planeastern USA (Baylor and Vough, 1985), generates an tain under clipping (Sanderson et al., 2003), but the uneven distribution of herbage supply over the growing latter grows on a wider range of agricultural soils than season. Productivity of cool-season species follows a chicory. Consequently, the utilization of these two spebimodal distribution, reaching maximum yields in the cies for pasture purposes could improve forage availabilspring and minimum yields during the summer (Moser ity during the summer over a wide range of soil condiand Hoveland, 1996). The availability of species that tions. While some reports on the productivity and are more productive during the summer is limited, requality of chicory under nongrazing situations have been stricting the choices for farmers to improve seasonal generated in the northeastern USA (Belesky et al., 2001, productivity of their pastures and often forcing farmers 2000; Holden et al., 2000; Jung et al., 1996), most availto base their carrying capacity on the possible occurable information on grazed chicory pastures comes from rence of a midseason forage shortage. climatic conditions different than those observed in this Chicory was first reported as having excellent forage region (Collins and McCoy, 1997; Li et al., 1997a, 1997b; value under rotational grazing in the late 1970s (LancaStewart, 1996; Belesky et al., 1996; Ruiz-Jerez et al., shire, 1978). The cultivar Grasslands Puna was released 1991). Information on plantain and its adaptability to the conditions of the northeastern USA is scarce (SandM. Labreveux, Agric. and Nat. Resour. Dep., Delaware State Univ., erson and Elwinger, 2000; Sanderson et al., 2003). 1200 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901; M.H. Hall, Crop and Soil Sci. Dep., The Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA 16802; The use of forage chicory and plantain to improve and M.A. Sanderson, USDA-ARS Pasture Syst. and Watershed Manannual and summer availability of forage is considered age. Res. Unit, Bldg. 3702 Curtin Rd., University Park, PA 16802in this paper. Our objectives were to evaluate and com3702. Mention of a trademark does not imply endorsement. Received pare with orchardgrass seasonal productivity of differ13 May 2003. *Corresponding author ([email protected]). Published in Agron. J. 96:710–716 (2004).  American Society of Agronomy Abbreviations: DM, dry matter; Sev, severe (treatment); Sev/Mod, severe–moderate (treatment). 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA